| Tax Credit-Certified HVAC Technicians |
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| Information for Tax Credit Certified HVAC Technicians |
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The Residential Energy Tax Credit (RETC) program requires that certain technologies must be installed and verified in order to qualify the installation for the state energy tax credit. The Oregon Department of Energy certifies and lists companies that are approved to do this work. Click on each link for specific information for technicians:
The purpose of tax credit certification is to ensure that the systems are operating at peak efficiency and that technicians can properly explain the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit program to their customers.
Information about other HVAC technologies that do not require installation and verification by a tax credit-certified technician can be found below.
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RETC for Heating Contractors <PDF>
Summary of Tax Credit Requirements for HVAC Technicians
Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit Required Paperwork for HVAC Applications
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| Premium Efficiency Heat Pump and Central Air Conditioning Systems |
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For the 2009 calendar year, the Oregon Department of Energy is changing the way technicians and companies qualify heat pumps, central air conditioning systems, and duct sealing for the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit. Under the new procedure, in order for jobs to qualify for the tax credit, the HVAC company, rather than the technician, must be listed with the Oregon Department of Energy. In order to be listed the company must:
- Employ at least one technician certified with the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) program (Proctor Engineering CheckMe certified technicians are automatically certified by PTCS); and
- The company must apply to be listed using the simple application form which can be downloaded and faxed back; and
- At least 2 key administrative staff from the company must participate in a telephone conference call update on tax credit program and procedures.
Examples of key personnel that should participate in the conference call are: office manager, sales manager, installation manager or general manager. We encourage everyone in the company who’s involved in the tax credit program to participate. These conference calls take approximately one hour. You will be notified of the forthcoming conference call schedule when the company applies to be listed. Other update conference calls will be scheduled monthly to accommodate new companies wanting to be tax credit listed.
Technicians trained by Proctor Engineering’s CheckMe or the PTCS program can easily verify their status at PTCSNW.com. You must be in good standing with Proctor Engineering or PTCS.
Companies currently listed as tax credit certified that haven’t applied and participated in the conference call will be dropped effective January 1, 2009.
Training for Proctor Engineering CheckMe! or PTCS heat pump program is offering regularly by the Energy Trust of Oregon and PTCS program. Check the Energy Trust training calendar and PTCS program for their training schedule. The Oregon Department of Energy does not provide any training.
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Application for HVAC Company Tax Credit Listing
Duct and Heat Pump & AC Tax Credit-Certified Technicians
Premium Efficiency Heat Pump & Central AC Information
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| Heat Pumps and AC Systems for Businesses & Rental Property |
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High efficiency HVAC equipment installed in rental property and commercial properties must use the Business Energy Tax Credit (BETC) program. The BETC application process is different and requires application and pre-approval before the installation begins. BETC does not require HVAC systems be field verified by a tax credit certified technician, however, systems will be randomly selected for inspection. Details about the Business Energy Tax Credit program can be found here. http://oregon.gov/ENERGY/CONS/BUS/tax/BETC-Efficiency.shtml
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| Premium Efficiency Duct Systems |
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IMPORTANT: After March 1, 2009, the Oregon Department of Energy will no longer accept the worksheets or out-dated tax credit application forms. Technician doing tax credit duct sealing should immediately begin using the current PTCS duct worksheet (see link at right) and follow procedures above.
Beginning in January 2009, the Residential Energy Tax Credit program adopted the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) duct testing and sealing standards. The test protocols and specific requirements are described at the PTCS Web site.
Major changes from previous ODOE duct testing requirements are:
- the “air handler effect” requirement has been dropped.
- The “combustion air zone” (CAZ) test is required only if a non-sealed combustion device is installed in the house (i.e. fireplace, woodstove, non-condensing gas furnace). In this case, maximum depressurization in the combustion appliance zone is – 3 Pa.
- If the CAZ test is required installation of a carbon monoxide (CO) alarm is also required.
The process for submitting Premium Efficiency Duct System tax credit applications has also changed. For tax credit jobs, the Technician should be sure the form is completely filled out and that the Tax Credit box in Section B of the PTCS worksheet is checked. The worksheet should be submitted to:
- To Energy Trust of Oregon for a tax credit and Energy Trust incentive (Energy Trust will submit to PTCS)
- To the public utility for a tax credit and public utility incentive (the utility will submit to PTCS)
- PTCS for tax credit only jobs
PTCS will generate the tax credit application and mail it directly to the customer. The customer fills out the personal information on the tax credit application, attaches a copy of the itemized invoice for work completed and sends it to the Oregon Department of Energy. ODOE will review the application and send the customer a certificate confirming the tax credit amount for the customer to use on their Oregon income taxes for that year.
For the 2009 calendar year, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) is changing the way technicians and companies qualify duct systems for the Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit. ODOE is adopting the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) http://ptcsnw.com standards for ducts and duct sealing.
In order for jobs to qualify for the tax credit, the HVAC company, rather than the technician, must be listed with the Oregon Department of Energy. In order to be listed the company must:
- Employ at least one technician certified with the Performance Tested Comfort System (PTCS) program for ducts; and
- The company must apply to be listed using the simple application form which can be downloaded and faxed back; and
- At least 2 key administrative staff from the company must participate in a telephone conference call update on tax credit program and procedures.
Examples of key personnel that should participate in the conference call are: office manager, sales manager, installation manager or general manager. We encourage everyone in the company who’s involved in the tax credit program to participate. These conference calls take approximately one hour. You will be notified of the forthcoming conference call schedule when the company applies to be listed. Other update conference calls will be scheduled monthly to accommodate new companies wanting to be tax credit listed.
Technicians can easily verify their status at PTCSNW.com.
To renew a company listing next year, key personnel must continue to employ a tax credit certified technician listed with PTCS, submit a renewal application and have at least 2 key personnel from the company participate in the conference call update next fall.
Companies currently listed as tax credit certified that haven’t applied and participated in the conference call will be dropped effective January 1, 2009.
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Application for HVAC Company Tax Credit Listing
PTCS Duct Sealing Standards and Forms
Premium Efficiency Duct Information |
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| Submitting Tax Credit Applications for all HVAC Technologies |
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In order for ODOE to process the application, HVAC companies must provide their customers with final paid receipt that clearly itemizes the following:
- Make and model number of the units
- ARI reference number heat pumps, central AC and ductless heat pumps
- Description of any components needed for the system to qualify (outdoor thermostat, TXV etc.)
- Retail price of the equipment-only
- Total job cost
A PDF summarizing these requirements can be downloaded here.
Not all Residential Energy Tax Credit technologies require certified technicians/listed companies to verify the performance of the equipment and can be installed by any company. Equipment which meets the standards listed for each technology should provide their customers with an application as described below.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Heat Pump and Central Air Conditioning Systems
The actual tax credit application is generated and mailed to the customer by the Proctor Engineering CheckMe program or the PTCS program. Typically it takes about two weeks for the homeowner to receive their tax credit application. Equipment must meet the tax credit program performance standards and be listed in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute's Unitary Directory of Certified Products (see link at right). If you believe the equipment you're installing meets our requirements, please provide us with the AHRI reference number and make and model numbers for the equipment and we will verify it and add it to the list if it meets the standards for the tax credit.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Ducts
The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out Sections 2, 3. 4, 5 and 8 of the Tax Credit Application form. Provide the customer with a copy of the PTCS worksheet to be included with their application.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Ductless Heat Pumps
Tax credit-eligible ductless heat pumps have a different application process than other heat pumps. Technicians are not required to be certified by the Oregon Department of Energy, but simply vouch that they have attended manufacturer-sponsored training within the past 5 years. The equipment must be commissioned using the manufacturer's installation or start up checklist. The technician should provide a copy of the start up page from the installation checklist to the customer to be submitted with the tax credit application. The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out sections 2 and 3. If the equipment is not on our current list, please verify that the equipment uses "inverter technology" and is listed in ARI (use Equipment Type HRCU-A-CB-O to see ductless systems) and notify us of the ARI number.
Submitting Tax Credit Applications for Premium Efficiency Furnaces and Boilers
The technician should download the application form (at right) and fill out Sections 2, 3 of the Tax Credit Application form. Provide the customer with a copy of an itemized to be included with their application.
Premium Efficiency Ventilation Systems
Premium Efficiency Heat Recovery and Energy Recovery ventilators (HRV/ERV) that meet RETC performance specifications are eligible for a tax credit. The HVAC company should check the list, fill out the application form and provide it to the customer to complete.
Technician information about Premium Efficiency Geothermal Heat Pump system incentives can be found here.
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Oregon Residential Energy Tax Credit Required Paperwork for HVAC Applications
AHRI
Premium Efficiency Ductless Heat Pump Information and Application
Premium Efficiency Furnaces and Boiler Information and Application
Premium Efficiency Heat Recovery and Energy Recovery Ventilator Information and Application
Premium Efficiency Ground Source Heat Pump Information and Application
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| For More Information... |
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The Residential Energy Tax Credit program is governed by policies set forth in Oregon Administrative Rules. These rules are reviewed and updated on an annual basis.
Download the information and forms in the right hand column for the technologies you meet the requirements to be certified for. For more information call 1-800-221-8035 and ask for:
Other Links:
Linking to a Web site does not constitute an endorsement by the Oregon Department of Energy, or its employees, of the sponsor or the services offered on the site. The Oregon Department of Energy makes no guarantee of the accuracy of the information provided on the linked site.
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